Not even a month ago Telstra (Australia) issued a press reelase to make it clear an e-mail being passed around Australia alerting about the 90# scam was a hoax.

Now it's Telecom New Zealand doing the same. The number of inquiries to their help desk about this scam made them issue a press release about this hoax.

The press release says:

Telecom is aware that misleading emails are circulating in New Zealand which describe a supposed scam for fraudulently charging toll calls to customers’ accounts.

“The scam described in the email is impossible on Telecom’s network,” said Telecom Public Affairs and Government Relations Manager John Goulter.

“We’re aware that some people have been carrying out the instructions in the email and posing as phone technicians, ringing customers telling them to key in certain numbers.

“The email claims that the bogus technician will then have access to the customers’ accounts to log up charges.

“The system does not work in New Zealand. Customer accounts cannot be accessed or charged in this way.

“People should ignore the email and not pass it on. And if they get this type of call they should hang up. There is no risk to their account but if they are concerned about the call they should report it to the police,” Mr Goulter said.